A GE GTW585 that will not lock its lid, or that shows the lid as open when it is closed, cannot start the wash or the spin, because a top-loader must know that the lid is down and locked before the basket turns. This is a 4.5 cubic foot washer with a glass lid and a dual-action agitator, and the lid is part of a small safety chain: a switch that reports the lid position, a lock that holds the lid while the basket spins and a control that waits for both.
The checks in more detail
If either does not report, the washer sits and waits, or stops during the cycle. Start by closing the lid properly. Lower it gently and press near the latch until it seats; listen for a click, and check that nothing, such as a sleeve or a strap, is caught in the gap. Look at the latch and the strike where the lid meets the cabinet. Detergent crust, lint and spilled softener can stop the latch moving, so wipe them clean with a damp cloth.
A lid that is bent, or hinges that have loosened, can sit slightly off and not trigger the switch; look for an uneven gap and tighten hinge screws. If the lid seems fine, reset the control: unplug the washer for five minutes, plug it back in and try again. If the lid still does not lock, the lid switch or the lock assembly may have failed. Both are modest parts.
You can test the switch by listening for the lock motor and watching whether the display reacts when you press the lid down; a technician can check them quickly with a meter. Do not force the lid, and do not bypass the switch. A washer that spins with the lid open is dangerous. Quote GTW585BSVWS and the serial number from the label when you order a lock or a switch. If the washer drains continuously during the fill and seems to refuse to build water, that is a separate problem with the drain hose height rather than the lid.
Differential
Likely causes of “GE GTW585 top-load washer will not start because the door or lid will not lock”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A lid not fully seated
What separates it The lid will not click shut
How to confirm Press near the latch
- 2
Residue on the latch or strike
What separates it The lid does not lock
How to confirm Wipe them clean
- 3
A bent lid or loose hinges
What separates it An uneven gap
How to confirm Tighten the hinges
- 4
A failed lid switch
What separates it The lid closes but the washer ignores it
How to confirm Replace the switch
- 5
A failed lock assembly
What separates it The lid never locks
How to confirm Replace the lock
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the lid clicks shut
- Whether the lid sits level with the cabinet
- Whether the washer drains while filling
- Whether residue is visible on the latch
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedClose the lid gently
ReversibleListen for the click.
Wipe the latch and strike
ReversibleRemove residue.
Check the hinges
ReversibleAnd the lid gap.
Reset the washer
ReversibleUnplug for five minutes.
Test the lid switch
ReversibleDoes the display react?
Replace the switch or lock
ReversibleIf it still fails.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The safety chain
- The lid switch reports the lid position, the lock holds it shut and the control waits for both before it spins the basket.
- Latch care
- Wipe the latch and strike occasionally to stop detergent crust building.
- Hinges
- A sagging lid can miss the switch even when it looks closed.
- Reset
- Unplug for five minutes to clear a confused control.
- Never bypass
- A washer that spins with the lid open is dangerous.
- Model number
- GTW585BSVWS identifies the right lock and switch.
- Parts for this problem on the GTW585 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- lid lock & striker kit, part number WH08X37937, at $45.94.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Never run the washer with the lid up
- !Do not bypass the lid switch
- !Call GE if the lid never locks after a reset
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why will my washer lid not lock?+
The lid is not seated, the latch is dirty or the switch or lock has failed.
Can I bypass the switch?+
No; it is a safety device.
Does unplugging help?+
Often, because it resets the control.
Is the lock expensive?+
It is a modest part.
Why does it also drain while filling?+
The hose may be too low in the standpipe.